Oh Christmas Greens!! The collection of greens and displaying them around our homes for Christmas is a tradition that goes back to beyond the 16th Century. In terms of folklore story surround many different type of greens one the most notable is the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe however I feel decorating with Greens make our homes feel warm and welcoming for Christmas.
Collecting Greens including white pine, cedar, balsam, hemlock and spruce is as easy as travelling to your backyard or travelling to a forested area where trees have fallen due to heavy snow loads – after last weeks snow there are tons!! Another great source is using the basal branches of your live Christmas tree instead of throwing the bows you remove to put your tree in the stand out use them in your décor.
Creating wonderful urns, floral arrangements, garlands, wreaths and door swags are really not they difficult. In terms of supplies at most you need some foam oasis, a glue gun, floral tape, wire and a few picks.
You can use anything to accessorize your greens from ribbons, Christmas decorations, found natural berries such as holly, winterberry and snow berry and you can even use fruit. I’ve done a really funky urn using bright green limes and vibrant yellow lemons…I think I felt like a cocktail when I did this one.
On Wednesday November 26 at 9am on CityTV check out CityLine for my full list of greens to use plus tips and tricks including just how easy it is from taking a plain urn stuffed with greens to turning it into a fabulous urn filled with interesting artistic flare.
I’m off to the US for American Thanksgiving this coming weekend. While I’m gone I will try to write a blog plus stay tuned when I’m back for a full look at the ways American’s use plants to decorate for their Thanksgiving / Christmas season. Did I mention I’m going to Las Vegas and will be featuring the floral works at The Wynn.
Keep Blooming,
Frankie
Oranges you glad you decorated